WORKERS launched a 24-hour strike over pay and conditions at an Ellesmere Port factory.

Staff at Greif UK in Oil Sites Road staged their picket protest from 6am yesterday to 6am this morning.

Their main aim was to get bosses to take the dispute to the arbitration body ACAS.

But staff say they are prepared to go out on indefinite strike if this doesn't happen.

And they have vowed to hold more 24-hour stoppages in the near future until their demands are met.

Greif, an American company which took over the Van Leer site five years ago, is an industrial packaging service making steel, fibre and plastic drums.

An employee, speaking on behalf of the protesters, said: 'This is the first of a series of strikes by T&G and Amicus members over pay and conditions.

'We are trying to urge bosses to cut our hours. Staff at our sister plant in Meadow Lane, Ellesmere Port, work 1,935 hours a year while we are contracted to work 2,006 hours a year, and they are on more pay.

'We just want equality between colleagues. Staff at our plants around the UK are on different pay and hours. We feel it's unfair.'

He added: 'Our main aim is to get Greif to go to ACAS but so far they have refused, so we are taking action to get them to do this.

'When balloted, 100% of our workforce voted in favour of action short of a full strike and action including a full strike, although that's the last resort.'

Up to 40 people work on Greif's production line, with a dozen more technicians at the plant. The picket line was manned by around 20 workers at a time.

Greif finance director David Tillotson said: 'We continue to make drums and continue to meet our customers' requirements. Other than that, no comment.'